[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lock
Haven 4-17-1939 by Ord. No. 193A (Ch. 1, Part 9, of the 2003 Code of Ordinances). Amendments
noted where applicable.]
There be, and is hereby, established and created in the City
of Lock Haven, a department for the registration of the ownership
of all real estate situated in said City, which said department shall
be under the direction and supervision of the City Engineer.
The City Engineer of said City shall cause to be made all necessary
books, maps and plans of the City showing the situation and dimensions
of each property therein, with the street number and name of the owner
or owners of each lot, with provisions for the names of future owners
and dates of future transfers of title, and for such purpose, said
Engineer shall cause to be made search in any of the public records
wherein the information necessary to determine said ownership may
be obtainable and in any other place for any monuments or evidences
of title requisite for the completion of said books, maps or plans. Said
books, maps and plans shall be carefully preserved in the office of
the City Engineer of said City and shall be so kept by addition, from
time to time, or otherwise, as to show the ownership of every lot
or piece of real estate or subdivision thereof within the City of
Lock Haven, with the successive transmissions of title from the date
of the commencement of such plans; but nothing herein shall invalidate
any municipal or tax claim by reason of the fact that the same is
not assessed or levied against the registered owner. Said books, maps
and plans so prepared by the City Engineer, before the final adoption
thereof, shall be approved by the City Solicitor and by the City Council.
It shall be the duty of all owners of unregistered real estate
within the City of Lock Haven, within 10 days of the date of the approval
of this chapter and of every subsequent purchaser, devisee or person
acquiring title by partition or otherwise, to any real estate in said
City, within one month after acquiring said title, to furnish the
City Engineer, at his office, descriptions of their respective properties
upon blanks to be furnished by the City, and at the same time to present
their conveyance to be stamped by the City Engineer, without charge,
as evidence of the registration thereof. Provided, that, the presentation
of said deeds for registry and certification by the Recorder of Deeds
or Sheriff, as now provided by law, shall be in lieu of such presentation
by the owner.
It shall be the duty of all persons acquiring real estate, or
any interest therein, within the limits of the City of Lock Haven,
whether by will or by inheritance under the Intestate Law of Pennsylvania,[1] within 10 days after acquiring such interest in real estate,
to furnish the City Engineer, at his office, descriptions of any such
property or properties, upon blanks to be furnished by the City. If
said property or properties are acquired by will, the devisees thereunder
at the same time shall furnish a certified copy of said will for registry
with the City Engineer; and if said property is acquired under the
Intestate Law of Pennsylvania, said owner or owners shall at the same
time advise said City Engineer of the name of the decedent, the date
of his or her death and the names of all persons acquiring title by
reason of said death.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 2101 et seq.
[Amended 2-24-2003 by Ord. No. 670]
The Sheriff of Clinton County shall present for registry, on
forms furnished by the City Engineer prior to the recording thereof,
the deeds for all properties within the limits of the City of Lock
Haven sold by him at any judicial sale or sales, whether by execution,
in partition or otherwise. On all such deeds which the Sheriff is
required to present for registry, he shall be entitled to a fee for
each deed, as provided in the Sheriff Fee Act, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 21101
et seq., in addition to the mileage provided by law, which fees and
mileage shall be paid by the purchaser.
[Amended 2-24-2003 by Ord. No. 670]
The Recorder of Deeds of Clinton County shall, within 10 days
after any deed conveying real estate within the limits of the City
of Lock Haven bearing date subsequent to the approval of this chapter
has been received by said Recorder for record, unless said deed shall
have been already registered, present such deed for registry with
the City Engineer on a form furnished by said City Engineer, as herein
provided, before delivery of such deed to the party entitled to receive
the same. On all such deeds which the Recorder is required to have
registered, he shall be entitled to a fee, as provided for Recorder
of Deeds in the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 21051.
The books, maps or plans made by the City Engineer, or under
his direction, under the provisions of this chapter shall remain in
the office of the City Engineer and under his custody and control,
and in no event, for any purpose, shall be removed therefrom by any
person or persons.
The Board of Revision of Taxes and Appeals shall at all times
have full and free use of said books, plans, etc., without removal
from the office of the City Engineer.
[Amended 2-24-2003 by Ord. No. 670]
Any person, firm or corporation neglecting or refusing to comply
with the provisions of this chapter for a period of 30 days after
public notice of the requirements thereof and 10 days' notice
by the City Engineer to said person, firm or corporation of the requirements
of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay
a fine of not more than $600 plus costs and, in default of payment
of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30
days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute
a separate offense.
